! LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 

(Lipi^h^ Qnm¥ ^^^1'^'^ 

i UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Cor)Yer)tior)al A^I^isb Leads. 



WHEN 

To Lead Kacl^^ Card of ttie TTlTiirteen Originally, 

AND 

WHICH CARD 

OF THE 

Remaining Twelve to I^ead on Second Round. 

TOGETHER WITH SOME SOUND ADVICE TO PLAYERS. 

COMPILED FROM THE HIGHEST AUTHORITIES OF THE TIME. 

""^^ "'^A . ^ PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. 

'"^.^ 1892. 




Copyright, 1891, by J. B. Lippincott Company. 



Copyright, 1892, by J. B. Lippincott Company. 



TO 

SOUND CONSERVATISM, CORRECT JUDGMENT AND EXCELLENT ADVICE 
HAVE ADDED SO MUCH TO THE DIGNITY OF OUR GAME, THIS 
BOOK IS CORDIALLY INSCRIBED BY HIS FRIEND, 

THE AUTHOR. 



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Preface to the Second Edition. 



OINCE our first edition, efforts have been made to still further simplify the 
Origill£ll Leads by reducing them to a minimum, and at the same time 
preserve intact all the true principles of Whist. In their efforts, the experts and 
masters of the game" have been most successful, and the result of their labors will 
be found herein. 

All that is requisite now to learn about the original lead is comprised in two 
leads for each of the Honors, one for the lo, and one for a small card, — ten in 
all, out of the endless combinations the cards may present ! 



These leads have already been adopted by Advanced Players/' and it is con- 
fidently believed no further changes can be made with advantage, since a state of 
perfection appears, after many years, to have been reached. A beautiful system of 
harmony, uniformity, and simplicity is now presented, which cannot fail to commend 
itself to all grades of players. 

The player who wishes to '^go deeper into the matter," and learn a reason 
for every first and second lead, is referred to ^< Whist Developments,'^ 
fourth edition, by Cavendish," wherein he will find not only the above, but a full 
and complete analyzation of American Wllist Maxims^ together with an 
exhaustive treatise on " UnWocMng." 

H. B. T. 

Art Club Whist Club, 

Philadelphia, January, 1892. 



INTRODUCTION. 



To Whist Players : 

It is the design of this little book to arouse a more general interest in " The noble 
game of Whist," and especially to demonstrate to thousands who long to play the game 
(but who are deterred by what they suppose its multitudinous complications and 
intricacies"), how little there is for them to learn in order to Ijeg^Il* Let all such 
glance at the following pages, and they will not fail to observe how few are the 
leads, how soon acquired, and with but a moderate amount of study. Why then 
should all these be deprived of a game, conferring one of the highest orders of intel- 
lectual recreation known ? 



The plays here set forth are also intended to be of great value to the " Moderate 
Player," referred to by ^' Cavendish," who, thinking he "Knows it all," so often ruins 
a hand through ignorance of how to begin, or how to continue. To this class of 
players it may be said, " If you knew how much more desirable you would be as a 
partner you would master these few conventional plays;" and again, As there are the 
very liest of reasons for each play, you would soon be desirous of knowing 
such reasons, and, these once acquired, the plays would remain fixed in your memory, 
and, becoming more and more interested, you would go deeper into the matter, thus 
increasing your pleasure in the game tenfold (this is no exaggeration), not to men- 
tion the delight of your friends !" 

The more "Advanced Players" will readily recognize the value of these leads to 

others, but even some of t lie ill will frequently make a wrong Second Lead (and 

not always lead correctly at the start), thereby nullifying the willing assistance of their 

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skilful partners — an assistance so essential to success. To these, therefore, it may also 
prove a boon. 

No claim is made that Whist can be learned from these pages. Their object 
is stated above. 

In their presentation, hundreds upon hundreds of hands are not given (which might 
be done), and the reader then told the '^Correct Card" to lead from each, but, adopting 
somewhat the method of the late eminent English astronomer, Richard A. Proctor (one 
of the finest Whist players of his day), the student is told when to lead a card, 
irrespective of the thousand and one combinations that may occur, thus almost im- 
meafSluraMy reducing his labor. 

In conclusion, it is proper to state that no originality is claimed for the Order 
of L#eadS here set down. All are compiled from living Masters of the game, 
and present in as condensed form as possible, consistent with intelligibility, the improve- 

♦ ♦ 



ments, experience and discoveries of successive generations for some hundreds of years 
down to the present time. 

That there will be — that there always are — objectors to any system is well known, 
and it is not expected this humble effort will be any exception. Nevertheless, it is con- 
fidently stated that the directions following are eminently correct, that all are founded 
on true Whist principles^ and that all are to-day recognized and adopted 
by the best players (excepting a small minority) throughout the Whist-playing world. 

Trusting the book may fulfil its intended mission, I am 

Yours faithfully, 

H. B. T. 

Art Club Whist Club, 

Philadelphia, January, 1 891. 

8 



On the Original lead, g^enerally open the longest Suit, and 

Lead Ace (2 leads). 

1. From Ace and any foUF or more (except when holding the four Honors or 

the three highest honors). 

2. Ace, Qn., Kn., and one or more lower cards. 

The Ace lead generally indicates a suit of five or more cards. 



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Keep your eyes fixed on the table — not on your hand — ^during play. 



xo 



Lead King^ (2 leads). 



1. From Kg. with Ace, and any two. 

2. " Kg. with Qn., and any two* 

King is never led from more than four cards, and generally indicates 
four cards exactly. 

II 



2. Avoid all mannerisms in play. 



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Lead Queen (2 leads). 

1. From Qn., Kn., lo, and one or more lower cards. 

2. Qn., Kg., and any tliree or more cards except Kn. 



The Queen lead generally indicates a suit of five or more cards. 



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Play the high, the low, the winning, or losing card with equal quietness. 



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Lead Knave (2 leads). 

1. From Kn., Qn., Kg., and any two or more lower cards. 

2. " Kn., Qn., Kg., Ace, and any one or more cards. 
Neither Kn. nor any lower card is ever led at head of sequence. 



The Knave lead always indicates a suit of five or more cards. 



4. It is not fair to hesitate UtmeceSSarily during play. 



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Lead lo (i lead). 

From lo, Kn., Kg., and one or more lo'Wer cards. 



The lo lead frequently indicates a suit of five or more cards. 



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♦ 



5- In Whist parlance, ''never" and ''always" mean almost never and almost 
always. 



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In all otlier cases 

lead a small card, which card must be the original fourttl l)est* 



The foregoing takes no account of forced leads, nor of Trumps ; the play of both 
being so largely a matter of judgment. The player is also to exercise his judgment as 
to the propriety of making, at times, an irregular, rather than one of the conventional 
leads. He then assumes all responsibility for his play. 

For second lead, follow instructions given in American Wllist 

lHaximSy" — the discovery of Mr. Nicholas Browse Trist, of New Orleans, La. 

♦ 



6. Carefully note partner's and opponent's Call or Echo. 



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"American Whist Maxims/' 




Apart from the Conventional Leads, 



1. When opening a suit with a low card, let that card be the original fourttl Ijest. 

Example: — Kg., lo, 7, 6, 4, 3, etc., lead 6. 

2. Having opened your suit with a high card, follow with your original fourttl 

best. 

Example: — Ace, Kn., 8, 7, 5, 2, lead Ace, follow with 7. 

But if a high card remains, marked in band, follow with Fourth Best, 
remaining: in band. 

Example: — Kg., Qn., 9, 7, 6, 2, lead Qn., follow with 6. 




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♦ 



Exceptional hands demand exceptional treatment, but the responsibility rests with 
the player. 



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American Whist Maxims." 

(concluded.) 



3. With two tiig;]! indifferent cards remaining, after the opening of your 
suit, lead next, the liigher if you opened a suit of four, the lower if 

you opened a suit of five or more cards. 

Example :—- Ace, Qn., Kn., 7, lead Ace, then Qn. 
Example Ace, Qn., Kn., 7, 5, etc., lead Ace, then Kn. 



It will be apparent that all the second leads ordered by the maxims presuppose no 
player to have renounced the first round, nor any other extraordinary fall of the cards 
to have occurred. 

Partner will never trump an original lead of 10, Kn«, Q^^y 
or Ace. 



8. Never lecture your partner, but criticise generously; remember, you are not infallible. 



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Addenda. 



The following special second leads have been universally adopted, 

being warranted by the rank of the Cards and information conveyed, viz. : 

Holding Ace, Kg., Qn., and one small, lead Kg., ttien Qn. 

Kg., Qn., Kn., ^' Kg., Kn. 

" Ace, Kg., Qn., Kn. only, " Kg., Kn. 

" Ace, Qn., Kn., lo " Ace, " lo. 

Kg., Qn., Kn., lo " Kg., lo. 

" Qn., Kn., lo, 9, " ^' Qn., ^' 9. 



Strengrtli In Tramps Is tlie most frequent (we had almost said tbe only) 
Justification for an original irregular lead. 



9- It is more genuine pleasure to the True Whist Player, in the skilful 
management of a single hand, than in the winning of games by simply the 
preponderance of master cards. 



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<<Read between the lines." 

Whist players know what this means ; for instance : 

1. Example: — From Ace, Kg., Qn., and others (see Queen leads). 

Lead Qn., tfien Ace, if only five cards originally. 
" Qn., Kg., six or more 

2. Example :— From Kg., Qn., Kn., and others (see Knave leads). 

Lead Kn., tlien Kg., if only five cards originally. 
" Kn., Qn., " six or more " 

3. Example: — From Ace, Kg., Qn., Kn., and others (see Knave leads). 

Lead Kn., tlien Ace, if only five cards originally. 
Kn., " Kg., six " " 

" Kn., Qn., " seven or more 

Etc., etc., etc. 

Compare above with Maxim No. 3. 

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To the uninitiated it may be explained that ''Read between the lines" 
'' Exercise a little common sense and use your judgment." 



4> 

As a corollary to American Whist Maxims, the following general instructions are 

given for 

Unblocking^ Partner's Suit. 

If Ace is led originally and Second hand follows suit, Third, hand, with any four Cards 
of the Suit exactly, retains his lowest card. 

If Qn., Kn., or lo is led originally, Third hand, with four small Cards of the Suit 
exactly, retains his lowest card. 

When next to play. Third hand throws his middle card but if he is to return the suit, 
Third hand throws his highest, though holding three of the suit at the time. 



" Study your partner's hand." No success can be achieved by him without your — 
nor by you without his — assistance. 



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